Lemon squeezer



Sept. 16, 1941. L. H. WHORTON LEMON SQUEEZER Filed April 3. 1940 4 my a": 5 i i mm n fimn m mx t If ii mammal?25E Patented Sept. 16, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEMON SQUEEZER Leo H. Wharton, Donna, Tex.

Application April 3, 1940, Serial No. 327,725

(Cl. l4l) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a lemon, or other fruit squeezer having a pair of plates between which a slice of lemon or other fruit may be held and squeezed to express the juice therefrom. The squeezer is also provided with supporting means whereby the squeezer may be supported in vertical position on the rim of a drinking glass.

An object of the invention is to provide a squeezer which in use does not extend any appreciable distance beyond the border of the glass in order that a large number of drinking glasses, with squeezers mounted thereon, may be carried on a tray.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive squeezer which by its artistic arrangement, can at the same time, be made ornamental.

Another object of the invention is to provide a squeezer intended more particularly for use in squeezing slices of lemons used for iced tea or other beverages and for foods of various kinds.

Other objects of the invention are apparent from the drawing of the invention and. the novel features of constructon, combination and arrangement of the parts are herein more fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of the device shown mounted on the rim of a drinking glass.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectionof Figure 1, on

line 2-2.

Figure 3 is a front view of the squeezer illustrating the advertising feature of the device.

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the squeezer.

Figure 5 is a rear view of the squeezer.

Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 3.

Figure '7 is a sectional view showing a leaf spring construction.

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing a V-shaped spring.

The squeezer consists of two plates, A and B, having upper parts or arms, Ill and II, and lower parts or dished jaws I2 and I 3. Each plate is provided with a pair of ears, I4 intermediate its ends which are secured together by the pivot or pintle I5, thereby permitting the arms, I0 and II to be manipulated to swing apart the jaws I2 and I3 for the purpose of inserting a slice of lemon therein. A coil spring I6 is mounted about the pintle I5 and is tensioned to yieldingly press with its opposite ends against the inner sides of arms Ill and II respectively to urge the jaws I2 and I3 toward each other. The spring I6 serves to normally clamp the jaw I2 upon the jaw I3, to hold the slice of lemon or other fruit between them. lhe juice is extracted by manual pressure on the jaws I2 and I3. The plate A is provided with a plurality of arms I'I, I8, I8, projecting from the lower edge of the plate A, downwardly substantial in the plane of the plate. One or more of the arms, as H, are bent inwardly to engage the inside wall of the drinking glass, while the other arms as I8, I8 are arranged to engage the outside surface of the drinking glass when the device is positioned upon the rim of the glass. Short stub arm I9 may also be provided to rest upon the rim of the glass to provide additional support for the device. By this arrangement, the device does not project far beyond the cylindrical surface of the glass, thereby permitting a waiter to carry a large number of glasses, with squeezers thereon, upon a tray. The devices require little extra space in tray service of any kind in which they are used.

The outer faces of the plates A, and-B also provide a support for advertisements of hotels, cafes, clubs, and the like that often use this method of keeping their names and business before their patrons and the public in general.

While a coil spring as I6 is preferable, other forms may be used as shown in Figures 7 and 8. The leaf spring 29, Figure '7 may be secured or soldered to one of the plates as A and curved about the pintle I5 and against the inner side of arm II] with a substantial yielding pressure to normally press the jaw I2 against the jaw I3.

The V-shaped spring 2|, Figure 8, has a small curved part 22 in its angle to fit about the pintle I5 and hold the spring in position with the arms 23 of the spring pressing against the inner sides of the upper parts Ill and II of the plates A and B. The V-shaped spring may be made from a spring band material or from a spring wire. In either form the curved part, clamped upon the pintle will hold it in position.

In use the jaws are separated against the tension of the spring and the slice of lemon is placed therein, and held by the tension of the spring. The device with the slice therein, is placed vertically upon the rim of the glass containing the drink, supported by the arms I'I, I8, and I9. The patron can then press the juice out of the slice by pressing upon the outside of the jaws i2 and I3. This is done preferably by lifting the device from the rim and holding the device and slice over the contents of the glass, after which the device may again be positioned upon the rim of the glass. The outside arms I 8, and I8, may be held in position by the finger when the glass is grasped. Preferably the device is removed from the glass and laid aside after the juice has been expressed from the slice so that i it will not interfere with drinking from the glass,

altered without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim: I

1. A squeezer of the class described comprisinga pair of plates, a pintle for pivoting said plates together intermediate their ends, the portion above the pintle forming manual manipulating means, the part below the pintle providing jaws to hold a slice of lemon between them,

a spring mountedbetween the plates and about the pintle' to press against the inner sides of the upper ends of the plates whereby said jaws are pressed toward each other and a plurality of arms extending from the free end of one of the plates substantially within the plane of the plate and adapted to engage the outside wall of a drinking glass and a cooperating clamping arm projecting from said plate and adapted to engage the corresponding inside portion of the wall of thedrinking glass whereby the squeezer may be seated upon the rim of the glass and held in vertical position with the lemon clamped therein.

2. In a lemon squeezer a main plate for supporting one side of a' slice of lemon, a cooperating plate for supporting the other side of the slice, a pintle pivoting said plates together, a spring mounted about saidpintle ,to yieldingly press the plates against the slice, means comprising arms on one of the said plates to hold the squeezer upon the rim of a drinking glass in substantial vertical alinement with the side of the glass and a pair or" stub arms projecting from one of said plates and adapted to rest on the rim of the glass for additional support.

3. In a lemon squeezer a main plate for supporting one side of a slice of lemon, a cooperating plate pivoted to the main plate for supporting the other side of the slice, and a plurality of arms projecting from the free end of one of the plates and formed to engage. opposite sides LEO H. WHORTON. 

